582 POLITICAL SCIENCE.
ruin is by bringing the danger of it before the eyes of the
well- affected citizens. Sometimes even fears ought to be
awakened, in order that men may be vigilant and not relax
their guard over the constitution, like watchmen in the
night The quarrels, also, of the better classes must be
looked into, and others who have stood aside from strife
be prevented from taking a part. (u. s., §§ I-5-)
Sometimes a political change from an oligarchy or a repub-
lic to democracy arises because the valuations of property, on
which political capacity is founded, remain the same, while
money has become more plentiful. To prevent a change due
to this cause, the valuation of property ought to be revised
within short intervals, so that the lowest valuation according
to which political privilege is given may vary with the value
of money and the increase or diminution of individual posses-
sions. Otherwise, where the lowest valuation cuts off a great
number, an oligarchy will be likely to take the place of a
republic, and a dynasty the place of an oligarchy ; and in the
reverse case a democracy will succeed to a republic, and a
republic or a democracy to an oligarchy, (u. s., §§ 6, 7.)
In all these forms of polity, the attempt should be to give
trifling but lasting honors or functions, rather than short and
important ones, for power corrupts, and all are not able to
bear prosperity. Especially should the aim be by means of
the law to prevent any one in the state from becoming very
prominent in wealth or number of friends ; or, if this cannot
be, to take care that they be relegated into foreign parts,*
Those who live in a way inconsistently with the polity ought
to be under the police inspection of a magistracy having this
for an object, since it is owing to the habits of individuals that
innovations creep into a community. The advancement of
a state in prosperity ought to be ever kept in view, and the
men of different conditions, as the rich and poor, the well-
* (§ 8.) For the words, airo^^riKa^ Troiaor&u ras Trapcwrracras aww,
which are variously explained — generally by being banished, or being
sent either into banishment or on legations — see the notes in Schnei-
der' s'ed., ad. loc., and comp. Stallb. on Plat, de leg,, ix. 855, c.